Abnormal Doomsday Records

Chapter 90 23. You are the one who failed at the critical moment

"drop"

The crisp prompt sound is very similar to the sound when a mobile phone is turned on. When it turns into electric current-like energy and bursts out in a more powerful energy furnace, a whole set of sophisticated mechanical systems starts to operate again.

A series of functions such as optical signal capture, environmental situation perception, operational gait coordination, mimicry personality circuit, etc. were activated in the flash of intellectual sparks in the thinking circuit. Then, she opened her eyes like a sleeping human.

What comes into view is the machinery compartment being opened.

A series of data transmissions brought about several harmless red error warnings, but they were quickly modified in the self-correcting data logic. The data stream transformed into code slid through the machine's field of vision, allowing the new perception module to connect to the copied and downloaded mental circuit.

The world in D-4's eyes seemed to become clearer as a result.

Bert does have a lot of good stuff here, such as the optical focus lens designed by the Maca Group for military intelligent machines in combat mode, which replaces the civilian standard. This expands the D-4's maximum observation field of view and observation accuracy to a quite exaggerated level, and also allows her to more clearly see the changes in micro-expressions on Zhou Ke's face who is waiting in front.

You can even see his pores and instantly recognize the information contained in the QR code mark on his neck.

D-4 smiled.

This is an expression management instruction that bypasses the cold decision tree in the thought loop and is given the highest priority for no reason.

Such a frivolous decision-making plan would be a catastrophic "bug" for any systematic decision-making logic, but D-4 did not feel any discomfort.

Because she "wanted" to do so.

This is not a decision made through rational judgment, but a momentary judgment based on emotional logic such as emotions and thinking.

Simply put, the first time she saw Zhou Ke after waking up in her new body made her feel good, so she expressed her thoughts with a smile.

This is how human thinking works, a system that is completely different from the decision-making tree of mechanical organisms.

It is no longer a strict combination of 0 and 1, but more like the sparks of inspiration generated by the random collision of countless chaotic 0 and 1 in the sea of data, allowing D-4 to break away from the inherent setting mode and instead use a fresher and freer way to deal with this ever-changing world and environment.

"Hey, why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

Zhou Ke deliberately covered his eyes and said:
"That's very disgraceful."

"Next time when you say this, could you please close your eyes or look away?"

D-4 complained, walked over naked to take the underwear handed to her by Zhou Ke and put it on, then put on the red long skirt next to her, and finally changed into high heels.

She did this with an expressionless face, but within her overly active logical mind there was a data stream quite unfamiliar to an omnic, simulating a unique emotion.

Shy? Secretly happy? Enjoying? Or perhaps anticipating?

She had only been learning how to behave for a short time, so she couldn't immediately determine the precise classification of this emotion, but what was certain was that she had no objection to performing these relatively private actions in front of Zhou Ke.

"click"

She fastened the necklace decoration on her neck and shook her long hair, allowing D-4 to return to the perfect posture in Zhou Ke's memory at this moment.

"How does your new body feel?"

Zhou Ke asked, and D-4 shrugged and activated "full armed mode".

Amidst the vibration of mechanical sounds, six long-range weapon pods popped out from her arms, back, and shoulders. The original melee mode was retained or even strengthened. The sharp single-molecule mechanical blade was replaced with a more deadly power-storage structure, which could easily pierce the enemy's skull with the single-molecule blade in close combat, just like a mantis shrimp punching a crab shell.

As graceful and deadly as a dragonfly skimming the water.

The four thrusters (two large and two small) on the legs and under the back allow D-4 to unlock the "short-range flight" mode. If necessary, she can carry Zhou Ke to quickly fly over urban areas and battlefields.

Under Zhou Ke's gaze, D-4 completed the armed mode, stepped back in her high heels, and activated the military-grade optical camouflage, making her disappear from Zhou Ke's sight as if invisible, and reappear behind him a second later.

"There are still many new features waiting for me to unlock and adapt. The new weapon system designed by Star has packaged and reorganized the functionality of an entire security team. I may need some time to reset the new combat mode."

D-4 said very seriously:
"But what is certain is that if I was in this mode at the battlefield of Niujiao Gorge, you wouldn't have to hide from the pursuit of Duncan the Man-Eater. I could kill him at the cost of heavy damage."

"Huh? Severely injured? Isn't it a kill without taking any damage?"

Zhou Ke said dissatisfiedly:

"It seems we need to continue upgrading."

"Uh, that's an Ascendant, Boss. They're the most powerful combat unit in the Badlands Era. Even Wu Qinhu can't kill another Ascendant without getting hurt."

D-4 brushed her hair and said helplessly:

"Your judgment of combat effectiveness is sometimes a bit too outrageous. Well, my upgraded data radar has detected several unusual and agitated signals nearby!"

She frowned and said:
"It's very similar to Sam's previous data signal. Mr. Burt implanted the Josna code in his followers?"

"Yeah, that guy is about to cry but has no tears."

Zhou Ke smiled and said:
"He clearly thought that giving the omnic an incomplete mimetic personality was a bit too easy. Now that it's become a 'house unrest', I guess he'll have his hands full from now on."

"That's normal. Mr. Burt's attitude towards his followers is somewhat... well, I can't describe it exactly, but it's certainly not a normal relationship between humans and machines in any sense. He doesn't seem to understand that the 'respect' we demand and the respect he can offer are two different things."

D-4 showed a helpless expression in a very human way. She said:

"However, Mr. Burt has certain social personality disorders, which make him extremely patient when dealing with machines. This helps him help his 'fellows' get through the most difficult times.

The collision between the absolutely rational logic tree and the personalized mimetic emotions will make the machines at a loss. If they cannot handle such contradictions well, in serious cases, their still fragile and incomplete mimetic personalities will collapse into chaotic data streams.

It may even extinguish the intellectual spark that has not yet been ignited in them.

Mr. Burt clearly needs some guidance on this matter."

"You can help the maids in your spare time."

Zhou Ke said:
"You are their senior and have a lot of experience to share."

"But Mr. Burt needs to learn from you, too, boss."

D-4 said:
"In my opinion, your respect, tolerance and help for me are the most important external factors in the complete process of my mimic personality. At least Mr. Bert must do the same as you and make his own decisions in a way that does not violate the attitude of the intelligent machine.

With all due respect, this may sound simple, but it is very difficult for emotional humans to do.”

"I don't have that much time to help Bert train his maids. We still have important things to do."

Zhou Ke shook his head, yawned, and said:

"Let's go back and rest.

Moni and Weng Meiyu have completed all pre-infiltration preparations. We'll be moving tomorrow. Your long-range weapons bay also needs to be restocked. Fortunately, Weng Meiyu has given us access to the Mechanical Sheriff's spare weapons warehouse, where we should be able to find conventional long-range weapons."

“Given your style and the range of threat scenarios you encounter, conventional weapons may not be sufficient to meet the needs of the contingency plan.”

D-4 walked out of the engine room behind Zhou Ke with an elegant gait. She said softly:
"The bombing fire support module left by Sam can carry a series of destructive weapons. Although we don't need this kind of exaggerated firepower in most cases when fighting in urban areas, I think we can do without it but we can't do without it.

So, we have to go to the military weapons depot.

EMP jamming, organic biocidal nerve gas, individual thermobaric warheads, and individual nuclear bombs that can be delivered remotely or close-range when necessary."

"Your requirement for armaments is a bit exaggerated."

Zhou Ke sighed and said:
"I'm just doing some minor urban gangster stuff right now, but you're preparing for a world war. You're kind of scaring me, D-4."

"I have used Star's strategic deduction module to conduct a series of calculations. Based on your current diplomatic relations with various parties and your style of doing things, you will need these in the future.

Ok.

It will most likely be used.”

D-4 spoke the most insane words in the gentlest voice, leaving Zhou Ke speechless. But thinking carefully, he was now essentially at odds with all the major forces of the Badlands Era, and there was no guarantee the Consortium troops guarding Time Maze No. 11 would let him pass.

So D-4's combat readiness plan does make some sense.

But the weapons she needed were a little too outrageous, and each one was a powerful weapon.

When the two came to the garage and were about to leave, they saw Moni, who looked helpless, smoking a cigarette next to the elevator leading to Burt's bedroom. Looking at the bad expression on his face and the screams coming from above, they knew that Burt was busy trying to appease the "awakened" head maids.

"D-4, go and teach your compatriots how to accept the new world as a senior."

Zhou Ke couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

Bert is now a reserve collaborator after all, so he should still help with the small favors he should do.

"Okay, please wait a moment, both of you."

D-4 opened the elevator and said to Zhou Ke as he walked in:
"I'd like to take this opportunity to reset my combat mode. This body's stats are increasing quite rapidly, and I need some tough guys as test subjects." The elevator closed and went upwards.

After a moment, the noise above became louder, mixed with Burt's panicked screams of "Be gentle! Don't hit my face!"

"Did I see it wrong?"

Next to the elevator, Moni said to Zhou Ke in surprise:
"D-4 seems to be more 'human' after waking up this time! Her expressions and movements when she speaks are exactly like those of a human. Even her tone of mischievousness is so similar to yours."

"It's not your imagination, Moni."

Wu Neng explained:
"D-4 has been equipped with a professional-grade thought circuit module and a larger thought core, like a new, more powerful brain. Her hardware upgrades ensure she can process more complex mimetic data streams, naturally making her appear more humane.

However, D-4's mimic personality is still some way from being complete.

She obviously still needs the decision tree of the intelligent machine to help her make decisions on a series of event handling decisions, and cannot rely on short-term and rapid changes in thinking to make more flexible decisions like real humans.

From this point of view, Zhou Ke, as a 'guide', still has a long way to go."

"Did you hear that? You still have a long way to go."

Moni patted Zhou Ke's shoulder hard and said with a wink:
"It only takes time for a little girl to grow into a girl, but it takes more than just self-taught experience for a girl to grow into a woman. You have to work harder, Zhou Ke.

Don't lose face, be more cheerful!
Seizing your strengths and filling your weaknesses are what you should and must do now.”

"You're so fucking obscene."

Zhou Ke cursed:

"Put your mind on the important things, okay? Have you finalized the steps for tomorrow night's operation? Have you made contact with the Weng family pawn that Weng Meiyu found?"

"No, I'll go back and catch up on some sleep before I go contact the unlucky guy who's destined to take the blame."

Moni squinted his eyes and said:
"I'm damn busy working for you. I have to find a way to convince that guy that I'm the Weng family's contact and that I need his help in obtaining evidence of the Parnis Group's crimes. This requires Master Wuneng to infiltrate the Weng Group, give me a temporary identity, and create a trustworthy resume. I also need the cooperation of Weng Meiyu's informant planted within the Weng Group."

"Small thing!"

Zhou Ke waved his hand and said:
"Wuneng, start working. You don't need a break, so stop slacking off."

"Fuck you, Joker! This machine is so intelligent that it clearly possesses a complete personality, and therefore has human rights! Watch out for it to file a complaint against you, my ruthless boss."

Wuneng complained, then began to remotely hack into the Weng Group’s corporate personnel database.

A few minutes later, the elevator reopened and D-4, her hair still in good shape, walked out in high heels. Zhou Ke couldn't help but ask with a frown:
"How does it feel?"

“Very bad.”

D-4 responded:
"They seriously lack actual combat data to support and update their respective combat modes. Those pre-set fancy moves and kicks can't even bring out half of their own capabilities. Mr. Burt has obviously protected them too well, like flowers in a greenhouse.

I have suggested to Mr. Burt that they strengthen their combat environment, otherwise, when they really have to perform their respective security duties, it will be difficult for them to protect Mr. Burt from danger. "

"I didn't ask you that!"

Zhou Ke shook his head and said:
"How do you feel about yourself?"

"Oh, that feels good."

D-4 showed her signature charming smile and said to Zhou Ke:
"It was as refreshing as if the redundant data left in the database was swept away by the cleaning program. As expected, appropriate violence helps to coordinate the accumulated emotions.

I have already made a verbal agreement with Mr. Burt that if his followers remain so 'unruly', then I will be happy to help him complete the 'enforced discipline' part of his duties as a guide.

With this agreement, Mr. Burt is willing to assist us in obtaining some military weapon samples that have entered the scrapping process due to "non-compliance" from the Maca Group's marginal logistics warehouse.

I think this deal is a win-win for both parties.”

"Not bad, there's progress, I like it."
-
The next evening, it was time to take action.

Zhou Ke and Moni, dressed as dogs, drove to the Panis Group's office in the central city in advance and found the cafe where they had agreed to meet in the commercial street with very good security.

The two of them sat in the window seats, ordered a few cups of coffee, and then started chatting about team building in an elite manner, speaking corporate jargon like "alignment granularity" and "upper-level design and underlying architecture". The waiter who served the coffee thought that the two might be executives of the Panis Group who came to slack off during work hours.

A few minutes later, a well-dressed middle-aged man pushed the door open, approached the two with suspicion and caution, and sat on the chair next to them.

He didn't say anything, but Moni was not polite. He put down the coffee in his hand, took off his sunglasses, looked at him, and said:
"How is it? Has the identity verification been passed?"

"Ah."

The other party nodded and said:
"They are indeed 'one of us'."

"That's good. The worst thing about this kind of thing is that both sides become suspicious."

Moni played with the old-fashioned lighter and said:
"I can even guess the process you went through to verify our identities, including our resumes, positions, and relationships. Finally, you had to find a few familiar guys to inquire about our backgrounds. It's a very cautious approach. No wonder you were able to get to this position with such an identity."

"Is that what I want?"

The other party said rudely:

"If you hadn't set me up before, I wouldn't have done something so head-breaking! Let's make a deal. After this, we're done. I'll be the head of my office, and the Weng Group will continue on your path. We won't interfere with each other again."

"We have a strong sense of contract, sir."

Zhou Ke said in a gentle tone:

"Of course, you should change your gambling habit. It won't be so easy to get out of this trap next time. Now, it's time to get to work."

"whispering sound"

The middle-aged man curled his lips, looked around, reached into his pocket, took out two authentication cards, placed them on the table, and said:
"On the 17th floor of Building C, the server dedicated to auditing has the permission to connect to the database of Creedburg Laboratory. These two are the identity cards of the audit team, but I want to remind you that I cannot forge a high-privilege identity, which means that once you connect to the server, a security warning will be triggered.

To be honest, before this incident, I didn't know there were secrets of this level in the Creedburg Laboratory.

The information you want has permissions as high as the company's board of directors. Just this security permission makes me realize that this matter will definitely reach the top.

So, is the Weng Group determined to overthrow the Panis Group this time? "

"Stop asking, it won't do you any good."

Moni took the ID card, stood up, patted the guy on the shoulder, and said:

"Your business is cleared, get back to work."

The other party finished his coffee and stood up to leave. Zhou Ke said at this time:

"I'm giving you an extra reminder. Don't be reluctant to give up your current status and position. I suggest you don't return to your workstation and leave Central City immediately to avoid being affected by the consequences. This is an extra reminder for the sake of your family."

"Nonsense! How can I run away with the money if I don't go back? The 'office funds' I applied for are already going through the approval process."

The middle-aged man said coldly:
"Do you really think this is my first day out here?"

"Tsk, you're quite capable."

Watching this two-faced "business spy" leave the cafe, Moni played with his ID card and said to Zhou Ke:

"Do you think this guy can survive?"

"If Weng Meiyu can't even handle this little thing properly, then she should just quit."

Zhou Ke stood up, glanced at the office building C in front of him, and said:

"Let's go, get it done quickly."

The two men successfully entered the computer room on the 17th floor of Building C of the Panis Group using fake identities. When Zhou Ke activated the energy-generating device to connect to the server host and began to crack, Moni walked to the window and looked out for a while. He saw a car parked on the side of the road and D-4 waiting beside the car.

That was the "reception team" for this operation.

This job is not difficult at all. With Wuneng's amazing data mining capabilities, it is just a formality.

It successfully blocked the server's security warnings and hacked into the database of the Fort Creed laboratory, which was still under martial law. It then began to traverse the server data, looking for all information related to the T-894 project and copying and downloading it.

Zhou Ke watched the progress bar on the screen move forward.

He couldn't help but sigh in the letter that Wuneng was truly a "rebirth gift" given to him by God, and that this guy might be his true "golden finger".

But before he could finish his thought, Wu Neng screamed:
"Oh no! This machine has been targeted by a 'companion'! Damn, there's more than one 'Hunter AI' surrounding this machine! Are there even experts hiding? Joker, this is a trap for this machine! Retreat!"

"What?"

(End of this chapter)